9 months ago
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MMA expert Dan Hardy has backed Francis Ngannou to BEAT Anthony Joshua because the Brit is easier to “rattle” than Tyson Fury.
Ngannou put his cage career on hold last year to make a stunning switch to boxing.
AFPAnd in his ring debut, he astonishingly floored Fury, only to fall victim to a controversial points loss in Saudi Arabia.
But the disputed decision did not stop AJ coming to the table to agree another crossover clash for Ngannou, set for March 8 in Riyadh.
And ex-UFC star-turned pundit Hardy believes this is a more favourable match-up for the Cameroonian, who he expects to cause an upset.
Hardy told Sky Sports: “I’m going with Ngannou genuinely.
“I picked Fury in the last one. I felt Fury was going to be able to catch him fifth or sixth round once he started to get tired. But this for me is a much better match-up for Ngannou.
“I feel like AJ’s easier to hit, easier to rattle psychologically and I feel like because of the unknown commodity of Francis Ngannou there’s going to be a shock to the system.”
Hardy knows Ngannou is not going to be the only heavy hitter in the ring but he believes the former UFC champion’s power will shock Joshua.
He said: “There’s an unquantifiable power about Ngannou and that’s concerning because he can punch through a decent guard.
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“I feel like AJ’s going to feel punches coming through his guard and they’re going to surprise him a little bit.
“Because Ngannou will let them go and try and really hurt him. But they’ve both got to respect one another’s power.
“If Ngannou gets tired, he gets over-extended, he leaves himself open, AJ’s going to pick him apart and it could look like a very easy night for him.
“AJ knows how to land and deliver a punch. He’s very precise. He’s very powerful as we know.”
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